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Thu, 24 August 2023
Noida call centre duping US citizens busted, 84 held
Timeline Refresh
23:59 HC allows Bennett Coleman to withdraw contempt plea against ARG Outlier Media
The Delhi high court has permitted Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd to withdraw its contempt plea against ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd, which owns Republic TV, and its editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami over the use of 'NATION WANTS TO KNOW' tagline.
In the contempt application, the Times Now owner alleged violation of a high court order dated October 23, 2020, which allowed Goswami to use the tagline as part of his speech or presentation but directed maintaining accounts if the same was used as a trade mark.
Justice C Hari Shankar disposed of the contempt plea with liberty to Bennett Coleman to pursue other remedies in law.
"Learned counsel for the plaintiff seeks leave to withdraw this application as he submits that he would take alternate remedies in law. The application is accordingly disposed of as withdrawn," said the court in an order dated August 23.
The plaintiff, Bennett Coleman, had earlier filed a suit seeking restraining Goswami or ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd from using the trademark or title or tagline 'NEWSHOUR' and 'NATION WANTS TO KNOW' on the ground that it infringed its registered mark.
The plaintiff had said Times Now is a news channel operated by it, having several segments of programmes, one of which was launched in 2006 titled 'THE NEWSHOUR' pertained to discussions, panel discussions and debates on current topics.
It said Goswami, who was earlier associated with Times Now and resigned in 2016, launched his channel Republic TV and website www.republicworld.com and they also filed trade mark applications for registration of the mark 'NATION WANTS TO KNOW', ARNAB GOSWAMI NEWSHOUR' and 'GOSWAMI NEWSHOUR SUNDAY' claiming proprietary rights. -- PTI
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23:46 Noida call centre duping US citizens busted, 84 held
The Noida police on Thursday said they have arrested 84 people, including 36 women, after a raid at a call centre on charges of duping US citizens of crores of rupees by pretending to be American government officials.
The accused had a database of around five lakh US citizens that included their names, contact numbers and some financial details which were used to target them and take them into confidence, they said.
The raid was conducted at the call centre located in Sector 6, having a capacity of 150 desktops, around 5 pm on Wednesday over inputs of such illegal operations being carried out from a facility during night, deputy commissioner of police (Noida) Harish Chander said.
"It's a large-size call centre. We have arrested 84 people, including women, from there. The centre functioned during night," Chander, flanked by additional DCP Shakti Mohan Avasthy and ACP Sushil Kumar, told reporters.
"The call centre was used two to three times a week and in one night alone, the gang would make Rs 25 lakh to Rs 30 lakh. They had been operating for around four months now from the facility in Noida," the DCP said.
Two key persons who are believed to be the masterminds behind this call centre have been identified but are at large, the officer said.
The US embassy has also been informed about it, while formal communication with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Interpol is being established, the police said.
On the gang's modus operandi, Chander said they interacted with US citizens after contacting them using voice messages in which the callers would scare the gullible Americans by saying their 'social security number' -- a unique identity given by the government -- has been "compromised'.
"The gang would then tell the US citizens that for assistance in fixing the problem, they should press 1 on their phones after which the call would land at their call centre (in Noida). Using a software, these people talked to them and shared their personal details, further convincing them that they are government officials," he said. -- PTI
Union minister Kiren Rijiju
23:10 Cab rams into wall of Union minister Rijiju's Delhi residence
A cab allegedly rammed into the wall of the official residence of Union minister Kiren Rijiju in central Delhi, causing damage to it, the police said on Thursday.
They said the cab was first hit by a DTC cluster bus due to which it crashed against the wall.
Rahim Khan, a resident of Narela, along with his wife and two children, was travelling in the cab and when he reached near Kothi number 9 at Krishna Menon Marg, his vehicle was hit by a DTC cluster bus of Seva Nagar Depot.
The cab driver lost control and the vehicle hit the wall of Kothi number 9, the police said. -- PTI
Suvendu Adhikari
22:56 HC allows Suvendu's rally in Khejuri in Bengal
The Calcutta high court on Thursday allowed a public meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari in Purba Medinipur district on August 26.
A petition was moved before the court by a BJP leader of Khejuri seeking direction to the police to allow the meeting.
Justice Jay Sengupta allowed the petition, directing the police to grant permission for the public meeting at Khejuri to be addressed by Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the state assembly and the BJP MLA of Nandigram.
Stating that the meeting was originally scheduled to be held on August 19, the petitioner's lawyer submitted that section 144 of CrPC was promulgated in the area a day before, causing the cancellation of the programme. -- PTI
22:31 IIT-B gets $18.6 mn from alumnus for research hub
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has received a donation of $18.6 million from an alumnus for establishment of a Green Energy and Sustainability Research Hub, the premier institute said on Thursday.
The IIT Bombay, however, did not disclose the identity of the alumnus, saying he wanted to remain anonymous.
The contribution will redefine the institute's role in addressing the global climate crisis.
The hub will be located within a state-of-the-art academic building on the IIT Bombay campus in suburban Powai and its focus will extends to critically important areas, said the institute in a statement.
The focused areas include evaluating climate risks and developing effective mitigation strategies, climate change adaptation, and comprehensive environmental monitoring, it said.
Additionally, the hub seeks to advance climate solutions, foster the adoption of renewable energy sources and energy-efficient technologies.
It will facilitate research in several critical areas, including battery technologies, solar photovoltaics, biofuels, clean-air science, flood forecasting, and carbon capture, among others, said the statement.
The research centre will also offer industry-tailored educational training and cultivate strategic collaborations with global universities and corporations, it said. -- PTI
Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt
22:27 Alia Bhatt thanks Bhansali, crew, audience for national film award win
Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt, who has been honoured with the National Film Award for Best Actress at the 69th National Film Awards for her performance in Gangubai Kathiawadi, took to her social media platform on Thursday to express gratitude to film director film's director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the crew, her family and the audience.
"To Sanjay Sir.. To the entire crew.. To my family.. To my team & last but most definitely not the least To my audience.. This national award is yours .. because without you ALL none of this would be possible.. seriously!!!, " she posted on X.
"I am SO grateful .. I do not take moments like these lightly.. I hope to continue to entertain for as long as I can..,' she said in the post on X.
"Love and light.. Gangu (also known as alia)."
She hailed the performance of Kriti Sanon, who shared the national award for best actress with Bhatt, Mimi, in the post on X.
"P.S - @kritisanon .. I remember messaging you the day I saw Mimi .. it was such an honest and powerful performance.. I cried and cried.. so so well deserved.. shine on you star' the world is your oyster," she said in the post.
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21:50 SriLankan Airlines flight suffered hydraulic system issue on Wed
SriLankan Airlines on Thursday said its plane flying from Colombo to Delhi encountered a minor issue with one of its hydraulic systems and that there was no emergency landing.
On Wednesday, a source had said the aircraft had made an emergency landing at Delhi airport due to a hydraulic issue.
In a statement, the airline said the plane operating the flight UL 195 encountered a minor issue with one of its three hydraulic systems.
"Such things happen from time to time, and the airline's crew are fully trained to handle them. The loss of full functionality of just one hydraulic system neither affects the performance nor calls for an emergency landing of the aircraft.
"As a routine precaution, the operating crew requested use of the longer runway for landing in Delhi. The landing was executed safely and without incident and the aircraft taxied to the parking stand for line maintenance work," the airline said.
The carrier also claimed that news reports of the plane making an emergency landing are false and that no emergency was declared.
"All passengers onboard the flight exited the aircraft safely... SriLankan Airlines always puts the safety of its passengers and employees first and it is in this spirit that the airline's pilots of UL 195 took prompt action following procedures on landing to ensure the safety of the people onboard the flight," the statement said.
21:31 Modi conveyed India's LAC concerns to Xi: Govt
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to Chinese President Xi Jinping India's concerns on the "unresolved" issues along Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh during a conversation on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Thursday.
The prime minister underlined that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas and observing and respecting the LAC are essential for normalisation of India-China relations, he said at a media briefing.
In this regard, the two leaders agreed to direct their relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and deescalation, the foreign secretary added.
Kwatra said Modi had conversations with BRICS leaders on the sidelines of the summit of the grouping in Johannesburg.
The ties between India and China came under severe strain following the eastern Ladakh border standoff that began in May, 2020.
The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in the standoff in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.
India and China held the 19th round of Corps Commander-level talks on August 13 and 14 with a focus on resolving pending issues at the standoff areas of Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh. -- PTI
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren
20:32 CBI to probe alleged illegal mining by Jharkhand CM Soren's aide
The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a preliminary enquiry to look into allegations of illegal mining in Sahibganj district of Jharkhand by Pankaj Mishra, an aide of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, officials said Thursday.
A team of CBI officials has reached the district to collect documents and inspect the alleged mining sites after registering the PE on the orders of the Jharkhand high court, they said.
The high court had ordered the CBI on August 18 to register a preliminary enquiry to probe the allegations of illegal mining against Mishra, they said.
It issued the orders on the petition of a local resident, Bijay Hansda, alleging that for the last two-and-a half years, "stone mafias" are doing "illegal mining" in connivance with government officials including mining officials of his district.
He has alleged that they are using earthmoving machines and carrying out blasts which resulted in cracks in the houses of villagers.
Hansda had alleged that he has seen that illegal mining was done in the presence of Mishra but his complaints to district officials did not result in any action from their side.
The Enforcement Directorate had also told the high court that Mishra is a person who controls the illegal stone mining and their transportation in Sahibganj.
The National Green Tribunal has expressed serious concern over the issue of illegal mining in Sahibganj, the ED had said. -- PTI
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20:14 Smriti Irani visits villages in Amethi, holds 'chaupal' to hear grievances of people
Union minister Smriti Irani on Thursday visited villages in her parliamentary constituency Amethi in Uttar Pradesh and held a chaupals to hear the grievances of people, said a BJP leader.
The BJP leader said Irani, who reached in Amethi on Thursday for a two-day tour to her constituency, visited Bavalpur, Bahadurpur, and Gosaiganj villages where she organised chaupals and heard the grievances of people and directed officials for their immediate redressal.
The BJP leader said the most of the problems were related to construction of roads, medical and revenue.
Irani also visited the house of BJP's Dhaurahra block president Dinesh Singh, who was killed recently, and assured all help to his family members.
She also inaugurated CCTV cameras installed at the Nagar Palika Parishad office in Amethi.
Irani defeated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from the Amethi seat considered a Gandhi family bastion. -- PTI
Vehicles set on fire by miscreants after clashes broke out between two groups in Nuh/ANI
20:06 Nuh violence: 1 held for Bajrang Dal man's murder
Gurugram police has arrested a man in connection with the alleged killing of a Bajrang Dal member during the recent communal violence in Haryana, an official said on Thursday.
On July 31, communal violence erupted when mobs allegedly pelted stones at the Vishva Hindu Parishad's Braj Mandal Yatra in Nuh district.
The violence soon spilled to adjoining Gurugram and six people, including two home guards and a cleric, were killed.
Pradeep Kumar Sharma was part of a group from Sohna in Gurugram that had participated in the VHP yatra.
While they were returning to Javed Colony in Sohna, their car was pelted with stones by rioters, hours after communal clashes erupted in Nuh.
The police rescued the group and admitted them to a hospital but Sharma succumbed to injuries on August 2.
The special investigation team of Gurugram police arrested Azharuddin alias Ajju, a resident of Raipur colony in Sohna.
This is first arrest in the case, the police said.
"The arrested accused was produced in a city court today and we have taken him on three days police remand. We are questioning the accused," said Vijay Pratap Singh, the head of the SIT.
Local Aam Aadmi Party leader Javed Ahmad was booked for allegedly planning Sharma's killing but he hasn't been arrested yet. -- PTI
19:32 HC refuses stay on Ayushmann Khurana starrer 'Dream Girl 2'
Films should not be prevented from release at the eleventh hour, the Bombay high court said while refusing to stay the release of Ayushmann Khurrana starrer Dream Girl 2.
The movie is slated for release on Friday (August 25).
A single bench of Justice Riyaz Chagla on August 22 heard a suit filed by one Ashim Bagchi who claimed the story of the film was similar to a script he had registered with the Film Screen Writers Association in May 2007.
Bagchi sought a stay on the release of the film pending hearing of his suit.
Justice Chagla, however, noted the suit and application seeking injunction order on the film's release was filed only on August 18 and the respondents have not had an opportunity to respond to it.
"It is well settled that at the eleventh hour films should not be prevented from their release. An opportunity is required to be given to the Respondent / Defendant to file their reply to the interim application," the HC said in its order.
The bench directed the respondents (Balaji Telefilms Ltd, the company's directors Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor, writers of the film Raaj Shaandilyaa of Think Ink Picturez Ltd and Naresh Kathooria) to file their affidavits in response to the suit and posted the matter for hearing on August 31. -- PTI
19:14 Shivraj to induct 3-4 ministers ahead of polls
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is expected to expand his cabinet soon, a senior leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said on Thursday, an exercise planned just months ahead of assembly polls.
Three to four new members are likely to be inducted in the cabinet of Chouhan, whose current term in office started in March 2020, said the Bharatiya Janata Party leader.
The names of ex-ministers Rajendra Shukla -- a Brahmin leader and the MLA from Rewa in the Vindh region and Gaurishankar Bisen -- the legislator from Balaghat in the Mahakoshal region who is chairman of the MP Backward Class Commission, have almost been finalised for induction in the cabinet, he said.
Deliberations are on between Chouhan and senior party functionaries over the induction of Rahul Singh Lodhi and former MP minister Jalam Singh --- both from the OBC community who make up more than 45 per cent of Madhya Pradesh's population, said the BJP leader.
Lodhi, a first-time MLA from Khargapur in Tikamgarh district in the Bundelkhand region, is the nephew of senior BJP leader and former chief minister Uma Bharti.
Jalam Singh, the MLA from Narsinghpur in the Mahakoshal region, is the younger brother of Union minister Prahlad Patel.Currently, the state ministry has 31 members, including the CM.
As per constitutional norms, the number can go up to 35, that is 15 per cent of the strength of the MP assembly which has 230 members.The last ministry expansion took place in January 2021.
Meanwhile, Shukla and Bisen have reached Bhopal.
When contacted, Shukla declined on comment on the likely cabinet expansion.
A Raj Bhavan official on Thursday told PTI that the state government has not yet sent any communication regarding oath-taking ceremony.
The expansion is being done on recommendation of the BJP' central leadership to beat anti-incumbency, balance caste equations and address regional aspirations in the state, where polls are due by the year-end, party insiders said.
According to Manish Gupta, resident editor of a leading Hindi daily, anti-incumbency is palpable in Mahakoshal, Vindh and Bundelkhand regions of eastern Madhya Pradesh.
He said the BJP had put up a good show in Vindh and Bundelkhand regions in the 2018 polls, but its performance was below par in Mahakoshal.
"Representation of MLAs from these regions was almost negligible in the cabinet. People are feeling their regions have been neglected in cabinet representation. Inclusion of MLAs from Mahakoshal and Bundelkhand in the ministry would prove useful for the BJP in the assembly polls," Gupta opined.
Chouhan became CM for the fourth term after the fall of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in March 2020. -- PTI
19:03 X gets last opportunity to present proof of takedown order compliance
X Corp (formerly Twitter) has been given one more and last opportunity by the Karnataka high court to submit material to show compliance of the blocking orders issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY).
The counsel for X Corp informed the bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice M G S Kamal that he was awaiting instructions from the client and sought time for the same.
The HC, while adjourning the case to September 15, made it clear that it was the last chance the company was being granted.
Today counsel for appellant prays for adjournment on the ground that he is awaiting instruction, accordingly one more and last opportunity is granted. Appeal is adjourned to September 15, the HC recorded.
Twitter (later changed to X Corp) had approached the HC against several blocking orders issued by the MeiTY.
A single-judge bench had dismissed the petition and imposed a cost of Rs 50 lakh for approaching the court without complying with the Ministry's orders.
The company filed an appeal before the division bench which had in an earlier hearing directed it to deposit Rs 25 lakh before the hearing. The Division Bench had also directed Twitter to submit material to show that it had complied with the blocking orders.
The HC during the hearing remarked that it was the duty of the company to satisfy the court; otherwise an inference can be drawn against it. The court said that the Ministry has claimed that there was no compliance by the company.
So, if you are still not in a position to submit before the court, then why should the appeal be allowed, the court observed orally.
MeiTY had under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act issued 10 Government orders between February 2, 2021 and February 28, 2022 directing it to block 1,474 accounts, 175 Tweets, 256 URLs and one hashtag.
Twitter challenged the orders related to 39 of these URLs. -- PTI
Allu Arjun in 'Pushpa'
18:11 Allu Arjun wins national best actor award for 'Pushpa'
The national film awards 2021 have been announced.
Some of the awards are:
RRR bags award for best popular film providing wholesome entertainment.
Rocketry: The Nambi Effect gets national award for best feature film.
The Kashmir Files wins Nargis Dutt award for best film on national integration.
Alia Bhatt gets best actress award for Gangubai Kathiawadi, Kriti Sanon for Mimi.
Allu Arjun wins best actor award for Telugu film Pushpa: The Rise (Part I).
The best director award goes to Nikhil Mahajan for Marathi film Godavari.
Harinath Goud
17:53 Hyderabad's 'fish prasadam' organiser dies at 84
Bathini Harinath Goud, whose family administers the popular 'fish prasadam' to asthma patients in Hyderabad, died at his residence here following ill health. He was 84.
Goud was unwell in recent weeks and the end came on Wednesday night, family members said. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.
Goud's funeral will be held on Friday, they said.
Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya and Telangana Congress president and MP A Revanth Reddy condoled the death of Goud.
The 'fish prasadam' (comprising murrel fish and herbal paste) is administered on the day of 'Mrigasira Karthi' every year free of cost by the city-based Bathini family for over 100 years now. The formula of the 'fish prasadam' is said to have been passed onto a family elder by a holy man.
The medicinal properties of the 'fish prasadam' have often been questioned by scientists, rationalists and others. However, thousands of people arrive in the city every year to receive the 'prasadam'.
The event was held on June 9 this year after a three-year gap due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
17:47 Karnataka to honour ISRO team for Chandrayaan-3 success
Terming the safe landing of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft's lander on the moon as a 'historic achievement', Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said the state government will organise a special programme to officially felicitate Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) team for this success.
The CM visited the Missions Operations Complex at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru and felicitated ISRO chief S Somanath and his team on the successful landing.
He interacted with ISRO scientists and officials there and lauded their achievement.
"The government will officially honour them by organising a special programme at the Banquet hall at Vidhana Soudha. About 500 scientists from Karnataka were part of it. ISRO Chairman (S) Somanath and his team will be honoured," Siddaramaiah said.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said, there will be full cooperation and support from the government for ISRO's initiatives, as he called the space agency 'the pride of the country'.
"Scientists have worked day and night for this accomplishment. A total of 1,000 scientists of the country are involved in the project and about 500 people are from Bengaluru itself," he said, adding that the date of the felicitation program will be fixed after September 2.
India on Wednesday scripted history as ISRO's ambitious third Moon mission Chandrayaan-3's Lander Module (LM) touched down on the lunar surface, making it only the fourth country to accomplish the feat, and first to reach the uncharted south pole of Earth's only natural satellite.
The LM comprising the lander (Vikram) and the rover (Pragyan), made the soft landing near the south polar region of the Moon last evening.
Earlier today, ISRO announced that the rover ramped down from the lander and 'India took a walk on the moon'. -- PTI
IMAGE: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah congratulates the team of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists on the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon's lunar south pole, in Bengaluru on Thursday. Photograph: ANI Photo
17:23 Manipur CM leaves for Delhi, likely to meet Shah
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh along with a few of his cabinet colleagues went to New Delhi on Thursday, officials said.
During the visit to the national capital, Singh is expected to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the situation in his state, where ethnic clashes broke out in May, they said.
Singh and his colleagues went to Delhi in a chartered flight, and are likely to return to the state at night, they added.
Among those accompanying the CM are state ministers Govindas Konthoujam and Sapam Ranjan, officials said. -- PTI
16:53 Google's special doodle on Chandrayaan-3 landing
Search engine giant Google on Thursday celebrated India's success in its third Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 with a special animated doodle.
India scripted history on Wednesday with its touchdown on the lunar south pole, making it the first nation to land on the uncharted surface.
With this achievement, India was propelled into an exclusive club of four, becoming the fourth country after the US, China and the erstwhile Soviet Union to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon.
Lauding this historic feat, the Internet behemoth has come up with a doodle 'celebrating the first landing on the moon's south pole!'.
The graphically dynamic doodle depicts letters of 'GOOGLE' floating in outer space amid twinkling stars, with an animated 'moon' forming the second 'O' in the sequence.
It also shows a spacecraft making a soft landing on the moon's south pole.
'Today's doodle celebrates the first-ever landing on the moon's south pole! The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota Range, Andhra Pradesh, India on July 14, 2023 and successfully touched down near the lunar south pole region on August 23, 2023,' read the note on Thursday's Google Doodle.
'Moon landings are no easy feat. Previously, only the United States, China, and the former Soviet Union have completed soft landings on the moon but no country has made it to the southern pole region before now,' it added.
In an epic moment for India as it joined the elite club in the space sector, the nation on Wednesday erupted in celebrations to hail the country's historic achievement.
Comprising the lander (Vikram) and the rover (Pragyan), the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar south pole at 6.04 pm.
'The moon's south pole has been an area of heightened interest for space explorers as they suspected the existence of ice deposits located inside permanently shadowed craters. Chandrayaan-3 has now confirmed this prediction to be true! This ice offers the potential of critical resources for future astronauts such as air, water, and even hydrogen rocket fuel,' added the Google note with the doodle. -- PTI
16:47 Modi thanks world leaders for greetings on Chandrayaan-3 success
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said science has made it possible for India to reach a difficult terrain on the moon and thanked world leaders for their congratulatory messages on the success of Chandrayaan-3.
"Since yesterday I have been receiving congratulatory messages from everyone. Worldover, this achievement is not seen as a success limited to one country, but of the entire humanity. It is a matter of pride for all of us. This is an opportunity to congratulate Indian scientists on behalf of the entire world," he said in brief remarks at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg.
The soft landing at the south pole is not only a big achievement for India but for the scientific community of the world.
"There have been no attempts to land in the area that India had targeted. India's attempt has been successful. Science has been able to take us to difficult terrain. This itself is a big achievement of science and scientists," Modi said.
On Wednesday, India became the fourth nation to soft land a spacecraft on the moon when Chandrayaan-3 touched down near the south pole of the earth's natural satellite. -- PTI
16:21 Infosys ropes in Rafael Nadal as brand ambassador
IT services company Infosys on Thursday announced a three-year partnership with Rafael Nadal, onboarding the global tennis star as ambassador for the brand and Infosys' Digital Innovation.
To mark Nadal's first-ever collaboration with a digital services company, Infosys and Nadal's coaching team are developing an AI-powered match analysis tool, the Bengaluru-headquartered company said in a release.
This personalised tool will be available in real time to Nadal's coaching team to simultaneously track insights from his live matches, when he is back on tour, along with historical data from his earlier matches.
The company release announced the partnership, saying 'Infosys onboards tennis icon Rafael Nadal as ambassador for the brand and Infosys' Digital Innovation'.
According to Infosys, Nadal is a perfect embodiment of what it takes individuals or business leaders to evolve and continually navigate their next.
Globally acknowledged as one of the legends in sports, he also has had the ability to change with the changing rigors of tennis over the years.
"I'm very happy to work closely with Infosys, as they work to not only evolve the experience of tennis to the times, but also empower people in our communities to be part of a brighter future. I love the way Infosys has brought its digital expertise across industries to the global tennis ecosystem," Nadal said.
Salil Parekh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Infosys said it is an honour to welcome Nadal, one of the world's most respected champion athletes and humanitarians, as an ambassador for Infosys.
"He is someone who personifies the spirit of always evolving, never giving up, utmost dedication and determination to give the very best in every situation," Parekh said. -- PTI
16:03 Ex-ISRO chief: I came home only after lander...
Former ISRO chairman K Sivan on Chandrayaan 3's success: "...Finally our prayers came true. After landing we did not come back, I was still sitting in the control room till the rover came out of the lander. Only after seeing that the rover came out of the lander and moving over the surface of the moon, did I came back to my home late at night."
The lessons learned from the failure of Chandrayaan-2 contributed to the success of India's third lunar mission, former space scientist with the Indian Space Research Organization scientist, Nambi Narayanan, said after successful touchdown of the 'Vikram' lander on the lunar South Pole.
15:40 1 more body recovered in Shimla landslide
At least eight vacant buildings collapsed on Thursday in rain-battered Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district, while one more body was recovered from the site of a landslide at the Shiv temple in Shimla. There were no casualties in the building collapse incident in Kullu's Anni area.
So far 25 bodies have been recovered from the debris of the three major landslides in Shimla alone -- at the Shiv temple in Summer Hill (18) and in Fagli (5) and Krishnanagar (2), SP, Shimla, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi told PTI.
While one body was pulled out on Thursday, two more bodies are still buried in the debris.
The body has been identified as that of Neeraj, a resident of Summer Hill. About 120 people have died in rain-related incidents in the state this month while a total of 239 people have died and 40 are still missing since the onset of monsoon in Himachal Pradesh on June 24.
Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Anni, Naresh Verma said seven to eight buildings housing shops, banks and other commercial establishments besides houses had developed cracks four-five days ago.
The buildings were declared unsafe and vacated recently, he said. The assessment of damage is being done and some other unsafe buildings along the National Highway-305 in Anni have also been vacated as a precautionary measure, the official added. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday claimed that the state has suffered losses of Rs 12,000 crore so far.
15:14 CHANDRAYAAN EXCLUSIVE! 'This is text book precision!'
Chandrayaan-1, India's first mission to Moon, was launched on the 22nd of October 2008. G Madhavan Nair was the chairman of ISRO then.
"What we had put on the drawing board in those days, my followers have succeeded in accomplishing it. So, I was really thrilled and excited by the event," G Madhavan Nair tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier.
Read the interview here.
15:06 Pak neta who had mocked Chandrayaan 2 says...
Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry, who mocked the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) earlier after the failure of a previous mission, on Wednesday congratulated the ISRO's soft-landing on the lunar South Pole.
Taking to his official handle on X, formerly Twitter, Chaudhry said, "What a great moment for #ISRO as #Chandrayaan3 lands on the Moon, I can see lots of young scientists celebrating this moment with Mr Somnat Chairman ISRO, only Younger generation with dreams can change the world. good luck."
Even before the Chandrayaan-3 landed, a former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf PTI) member said, "Pak media should show #Chandrayan moon landing live tomorrow at 6:15 PM' historic moment for Humankind especially for the people, scientists and Space community of India'. Many Congratulations."
In 2019, after ISRO lost contact with the Chandrayaan-2 lander minutes before its scheduled touchdown, Choudhary mocked India for the failure and questioned the wisdom of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in spending Rs 900 crore on the mission saying it was unwise to venture into unknown territory.
He even used hashtags like "#IndiaFailed" to mock India.However, with India becoming the first country on Wednesday to place a lander on the uncharted south side of the moon, the minister's views on India's space research appeared to have changed. -- ANI
14:49 At BRICS, PM has brief conversation with...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was spotted having a brief exchange of words with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) leaders' press conference on Thursday.
Before the conference started in earnest, PM Modi and Xi were pictured having a brief conversation before taking their designated seats.
Notably, in November 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chanced upon Xi at the G20 dinner hosted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bali, Indonesia. Both the leaders exchanged pleasantries at the G20 dinner.
Notably, this was the first handshake since the standoff between China's Peoples Liberation Army and the Indian forces in eastern Ladakh in April 2020.
India and China have been in a stand-off situation for the last three years and relations at all levels have deteriorated due to tensions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The two sides have held 19 rounds of talks so far to address the boundary issues in eastern Ladakh since 2020, post the Chinese aggression there. PM Modi arrived in South Africa for the 15th BRICS Summit on Tuesday. The opening day of the summit in Johannesburg was witness to the BRICS Business Forum Leaders' Dialogue. -- ANI
14:31 India's time to shine
Dr. S. Jaishankar tweets this image saying, "This morning at the BRICS Summit."
ISRO chief S Somanath
14:00 ISRO's next goal: Solar mission next month
As the country rejoiced the successful placement of the ISRO lander -- Vikram -- on the moon's uncharted South Pole, the agency's chairman S Somanath on Thursday confirmed that its maiden solar mission 'Aditya' is in the works and will be ready for launch in September.
In a brief address to the nation after the lander touched down on the moon's dark side on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi alluded to future missions to the Sun and Venus.
Speaking to ANI a day after the ISRO put India in an elite club of nations with the successful conduct of its maiden lunar landing mission, the ISRO chief said, "Mission 'Aditya' is in the works and will be ready for launch in the first week of September. We are also planning a mission by the end of September or October to demonstrate our crew module and crew escape capability, which will be followed by many test missions until we launch our first manned mission to space (Gaganyaan), possibly by 2025."
On the flawless touchdown of the 'Vikram' lander on the moon's south face, Somanath said the gamut of emotions he ran as the lander closed in on the lunar surface was hard to put in words.
"It was a mix of joy, a feeling of accomplishment and gratefulness for all fellow scientists, who contributed to the success of this mission," Somanath told ANI.
He added that the moon's South Pole has the potential for human settlement, which is why the agency made it the preferred landing site for the lander.
13:49 PM on Chandrayaan: On behalf of India I thank...
PM Modi on the success of Chandrayaan-3 mission at the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg.
"It is a matter of pride for us that this achievement is being accepted as an achievement for all of humanity...
"On behalf of India, its people and our scientists, I thank the scientists and the world's scientific community for their wishes on this historic moment..."
13:22 'Superpower in space': Chandrayaan-3 makes headlines across globe
Chandrayaan-3's successful soft-landing on the Moon to propel India into an elite group of nations was lauded by leading foreign media outlets as a marvellous achievement and a massive moment for the country's space exploration that has raised its profile as a spacefaring nation.
From The New York Times to BBC and The Guardian to The Washington Post, the historic event in India's space programme on Wednesday made headlines across the globe.
Mainstream American newspapers, many of which had been sceptical of India's space mission and sometimes even made fun of it through cartoons, noted the great Indian achievement.
"The Chandrayaan-3 mission makes India the first country to reach the lunar south polar region in one piece and adds to the achievements of the country's homegrown space programme," The New York Times reported.
The Washington Post wrote a couple of stories covering various perspectives and an opinion piece to celebrate this historic occasion.
"It is a marvellous achievement for India's space programme - and symbolic of an important moment in geopolitics. For the successful landing came just days after a Russian mission to the same region went haywire and smashed into the lunar surface like a hammer coming down on the last nail in the coffin of Russia's decline," wrote David Von Drehle, Deputy Opinion Editor of the daily.
"'India Is on the Moon': Chandrayaan-3 Spacecraft Lands on Lunar South Pole," wrote The Wall Street Journal.
The BBC headlined its article as 'Chandrayaan-3: India makes historic landing near Moon's south pole'.
"This is a massive moment for India - and it bumps them up the space superpower list," Rebecca Morelle, BBC's science editor wrote.
"Landing on the Moon is far from easy as Russia's attempt this week highlighted and many missions have failed, including India's first attempt," she said.
"The mission could cement India's status as a global superpower in space. Previously, only the United States, China and the former Soviet Union have completed soft landings on the lunar surface," CNN said in the article.
'India becomes the fourth country ever to land a spacecraft on the moon'.
Chandrayaan-3's landing site is also closer to the moon's south pole than any other spacecraft in history has ventured. The South Pole region is considered an area of key scientific and strategic interest for spacefaring nations, as scientists believe the region to be home to water ice deposits, it said.
"Working alongside allies such as the United States and France, India is part of a second wave of emerging space powers. The country's space programme has become one of the world's busiest in its development of exploratory space technology," it said.
13:15 Parl panel on Home Affairs meets to examine criminal laws
A parliamentary panel met in Delhi on Thursday to examine the bills which seek to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Evidence Act.
Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla is scheduled to make a presentation on the three bills - the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill - before the members of the committee.
The three bills seek an overhaul of the existing laws, described as a colonial legacy by Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha when he introduced them in the last session, by replacing them with new Acts catering to contemporary needs and aspirations of the people.
The standing committee has to submit its report in three months, in time for the government to table the updated bills in the next session of Parliament.
BJP member Brij Lal is the chairman of the Standing Committee on Home Affairs.
While introducing the bills, Shah had said these would transform India's criminal justice system and added the changes were done to provide speedy justice and create a legal system that caters to contemporary needs and aspirations of the people. -- PTI
12:40 None of the ISRO scientists on mission moon are IITians
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has a very important point to make.
"Worth applauding: @ISRO chief Dr Somanath is a product of the TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, Kerala and many of his colleagues graduated from the College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram (CET). At least seven more engineers from CET were involved in the #Chandrayaan3Success:
From Left: -Mohana Kumar (mission director / mechanical) -Athula (electronics) -Satheesh (mechanical) -Narayanan (associate mission director / mechanical) -Mohan (mechanical) -Shora (electronics) [Apologies for any spelling errors].
Indians are rightly obsessed with the IITs, but let's salute the alumni of unsung engineering colleges who serve the public sector with dedication & who are the backbone of national enterprises like @ISRO. IITians went to Silicon Valley; CETians took us to the moon!"
12:28 SRK on moon landing: India chhaa gaya!
Moon and romance are synonymous. So, if you missed what India's romantic hero had to say about the landing yesterday, here it is.
Yeah, we are talking about Shah Rukh Khan.
The actor posted, "Chaand Taare todh laoon'. Saari Duniya par main chhaoon. Aaj india aur @isro chhaa gaya. Congratulations to all the scientists and engineers, the whole team which has made India so proud. Chandrayaan-3 has successfully soft-landed on the moon. #Chandrayaan3."
12:00 Veteran actor Seema Deo dies at 81
Veteran actor Seema Deo, remembered for her roles in "Anand" and "Kora Kagaz", died here on Thursday morning due to age-related ailments, her filmmaker son Abhinay Deo said. She was 81.
The actor, who acted in over 80 Hindi and Marathi films, passed away at her Bandra home. She had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for over three years.
"She passed away at 8.30-9 am at her residence in Bandra due to old age. She had been withdrawn completely, and eventually it is just old age. Alzheimer's is such a thing that you stop figuring out how to function. She had dementia leading up to Alzheimer's and she was suffering from it for over three years.
"There's no specific reason (for her death). Due to Alzheimer's and dementia, the person forgets how to walk. The muscle memory starts coming down and one by one, the organs start shutting down," Abhinay Deo told PTI.
The last rites will be performed at 5 pm at Shivaji Park. Her husband, Ramesh Deo, also a veteran of Hindi and Marathi cinema, died in 2022 at the age of 93. She is survived by two sons actor Ajinkya Deo and Abhinay Deo. While Ajinkya Deo has featured in films such as "Sansaar", "Indrajeet" and "Aan: Men at Work", Abhinay Deo is a director known for Delhi Belly and Force. PTI
11:55 Chandrayaan 2 failure helped: Nambi Narayanan
The lessons learned from the failure of Chandrayaan-2 contributed to the success of India's third lunar mission, former space scientist with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) scientist, Nambi Narayanan, said after successful touchdown of the 'Vikram' lander on the lunar South Pole.
Speaking to ANI, Narayanan congratulated the scientists associated with the Chandrayaan-3 mission, saying, "Every failure of Chandrayaan-2 was addressed to. Let it be a satellite problem, stability problem or an additional requirement problem. All were addressed to and all were rectified. And the failure of Chandrayaan-2 was used for the success of Chandrayaan-3. Or we can say we used that failure in our favour. In that way, they (ISRO scientists) have clearly done a wonderful job. We were confident before the launch itself that it (Chandrayaan-3) would be a success. And so it turned out to be. Congratulations to all," he added.
The space scientist said the third lunar mission was a daunting one for ISRO, especially considering the budget, commitment to the country's space programme and the failure of Chandrayaan-2.
Despite the challenges, the scientists involved with the project at ISRO knew that the core mission objectives were achievable, he noted.
"It is a great day for ISRO, India and mankind as well. What we have achieved, in a sense, is unbelievable. When I say unbelievable, I mean with the kind of budget that we have, with the kind of other commitments that we have and after a failure (of Chandrayaan-2), which had put us into great difficulty. Yet, we achieved the mission objectives. So in that sense, it is unbelievable. It is also believable because everyone at ISRO knew it was achievable and they achieved it," Narayanan told ANI.
11:40 Sidda felicitates ISRO chief, meets moon team
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah congratulates team of ISRO scientists on the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3. He also felicitated ISRO chief S Somanath on the success.
India's Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar south pole at 6.04 pm on Wednesday, making it the first country to land on the uncharted surface.
ISRO scientists watch the lander descend last evening
11:27 No millionaires among ISRO scientists: Ex-chief
Buoyed by India's successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair said the scientists at space agency have achieved this historic success by getting a salary one-fifth of the scientists in the developed world.
According to him, the low wages for the scientists at ISRO are one of the reasons why they could find low-cost solutions for space exploration.
"The wages paid to the scientists, technicians, and other staff at ISRO are hardly one-fifth of what is given globally. So that gives an advantage," Nair told PTI while talking about the Indian space agency's history of exploring space at very low expenses.
He said there are no millionaires among ISRO scientists, and they always live a very normal and subdued life.
"They are not really bothered about the money but are passionate and dedicated to their mission. That is how we achieved greater heights," Nair said here.
He said the scientists at ISRO could achieve this through careful planning and long-term vision.
"We tried to build one upon the other. What we learnt in the past, we used for the subsequent mission. In fact, what we developed nearly 30 years ago for the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is the same engine that is being used for the GSLV as well," Nair said.
He said India uses home-grown technology for its space missions, and that helped them reduce the cost considerably. He said the space mission costs of India are 50 to 60 percent lower compared to the space missions of other countries. Nair said the success of Chandrayaan-3 is the first stepping stone to begin India's planetary explorations.
"We have really broken the ice and made a good beginning," he said.
The former ISRO chief said the country already has several commercial contracts with Europe and America, and this will grow now with the success of Chandrayaan-3.
"Certainly the global people will accept our technical competence and quality of our launch system and spacecraft, etc. International cooperation has been on the agenda of the Indian space programme, and it will be strengthened in the days to come," he added.
The total cost of Chandrayaan-3, according to ISRO, is only Rs 615 crore, which is almost equivalent to a Bollywood movie's production budget in the country. -- PTI
A still of the houses collapsing
10:58 Massive landslide in Kullu, several feared trapped
A massive landslide in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district today destroyed several houses with many people feared trapped in the debris. Visuals of the landslide show many multi-storeyed buildings collapsing, leaving behind a massive trail of dust.
Emergency response teams, such as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), have been deployed to rescue those who are feared trapped in the landslide.
10:53 'What a triumph!'
Philip Green OAM, Australia's envoy to India shares this image from last evening, writing. "What a triumph! Congratulations #India on #Chandrayaan3's successful #MoonLanding! Our team watched with pride the final frontier of your #MoonMission. @PMOIndia @narendramodi @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @AusSpaceAgency @esaoperations @isro @CanberraDSN."
10:49 Ex-NASA man: Moon landing triumph of Indian...
Former NASA Official Mike Gold has said Chandrayaan-3's success is a triumph of Indian innovation, human capital and the capabilities that will take India even further.
"Congratulations to ISRO and all of the people of India. This is a victory not only for India but for the entire world as we go into this new era of lunar development and India is leading the way," Gold said on Chandrayaan-3's successful landing on the Moon.
"It is amazing to have the success that Chandrayaan-3 has had given the relatively little amount of resources that India has used, it is just a triumph of Indian innovation, human capital and the capabilities that will take India even further," the now Chief Growth Officer of Redwire Space said.
Red-wire Corporation is an American aerospace manufacturer and space infrastructure technology company.
Gold said the mission "is just the first step on the amazing journey of discovery that India is on having signed the Artemis Accords. This is just the beginning of India's journey."
He further said that he is excited about India's interface development with commercial space companies such as Redwire.
"We are building parts of the lunar gateway, developing systems on the moon to develop landing pads," he said.
"This is just the beginning of a new era led by India. Fantastic to see the flag," Gold added.Chandryaan-3 on Wednesday successfully performed a soft landing on the moon. -- ANI
10:26 World sees optimism, confidence in Indian economy: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India is seen as a combination of openness, opportunities and options as the world sees optimism and confidence in the Indian economy.
In a video message at the G20 Trade and Investment Minister's meeting here, the prime minister said that during the last nine years, India has become the fifth largest global economy and it has increased its competitiveness and enhanced transparency.
"Today we see global optimism and confidence in the Indian economy. India is seen as a combination of openness, opportunities and options," he said. India has expanded digitisation and promoted innovation and it has moved away from red tape to red carpet and liberalised FDI flows, he said.
"Above all we have brought policy stability," he said, adding, "we are committed to make India the third largest global economy in the next few years."
He further said that the global uncertainties have tested the world economy and as members of the G20, it is the responsibility of the countries to rebuild confidence in international trade and investments. -- PTI
10:23 Big step for mankind
US astronaut Chris Hadfield, a veteran for three spaceflights tweets, "Congratulations @isro and all of India! You are there, safely and proudly on the Moon!"
Up close and personal with the moon
10:17 US celebrates India's moon landing
After a historic soft landing by the Chandrayaan-3 on the southern polar region of the Moon, the Indian diaspora erupted in celebrations at Times Square in New York City.
Members of the Indian diaspora were seen dancing to drum rolls and immersing in unbridled joy as the country became the first in the world to land on the uncharted lunar south face.
"Congratulations to the people of India for the great achievement of landing on the Moon. We are just thrilled today," a woman from Canada said at Times Square.
"It is a matter of pride not only for India but for the whole world..., " said Prem Bhandari, prominent diaspora leader and volunteer of Jaipur Foot USA, Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA) and Rescuing Every Distressed Indian Overseas.
Taking India to an elite club of nations, the Chandryaan-3 rover on Wednesday successfully performed a soft landing on the lunar South Pole.
Taking to its official handle on X, formerly Twitter, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) posted, "Chandrayaan-3 Mission: 'India, I reached my destination and you too!' Chandrayaan-3 has successfully soft-landed on the moon! Congratulations, India!"
After the successful landing, congratulatory messages poured in from across the world for the ISRO chief and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The spokesperson for the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Paulina Kubiak, hailed the successful touchdown of the 'Vikram' lander on the lunar South Pole, saying, "It is something that we kind of shared this morning. I mean, the president congratulates India. Obviously, it was within the OPGA office. Many of the Indian colleagues were celebrating that achievement. -- ANI
09:34 Giant step for humanity: UN congratulates India
Top United Nations leadership congratulated India on the success of its lunar mission Chandrayaan-3, describing it as a "giant step" for humanity and a "great achievement".
India's Chandrayaan-3 became the first space mission to land near the south pole of the Moon. The attempt comes days after Russia's unmanned Luna-25 spacecraft spun out of control and crashed into the Moon.
Associate Spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Florencia Soto Nino termed India's mission to the moon as "very exciting."
"We of course congratulate India on being the first country to land a spacecraft on the south pole of the moon. This is a great achievement, which was watched by many people around the world," Nino said at the daily press briefing here Wednesday.
She said the United Nations "has taken a very keen interest in space, particularly in the peaceful uses of outer space. And we wish India a greater success in its space exploration."
President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly Csaba Korosi said in a tweet, Congratulations, India @isro, on the historic landing of #Chandrayaan3 on the moon's South Pole. A giant step for humanity, science, and innovation. And a giant step for India."
Korosi's spokesperson Paulina Kubiak said at a press briefing that the President congratulates India on the achievement.
In response to a question by PTI, she said Indian colleagues within the Office of the President of the General Assembly were celebrating this remarkable achievement.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield tweeted "Congratulations to @IndiaUNNewYork and the people of India for @ISRO Chandrayaan-3's historic moon landing. Look forward to further deepening U.S.-India space cooperation including our work together at the @UN and beyond as new frontiers continue to be explored."
09:30 2 killed, 6 injured as building slab collapses in Navi Mumbai
Two persons were killed and six others injured when the slab of a 20-year-old residential building collapsed in Nerul area of Navi Mumbai, fire brigade officials said on Thursday.
The third floor ceiling slab of the four-storey Tulsi Bhavan building located at Shirsole in Nerul collapsed at around 8.50 pm on Wednesday, they said.
The slab came crashing down on the second and first floors, killing a labourer and another person, divisional fire officer Purushottam Jadhav said.
The building has four wings and the slab collapsed in its 'B' wing, he said.
Some civil work was underway on the third floor when the slab collapsed, said another fire official.
The building has a tailoring shop on the ground floor and the shopkeeper closed the outlet and left the place a few minutes before the incident, he said.
One of the deceased has been identified as Babaji Shingade, Jadhav said.
The injured persons have been admitted to a local hospital, he said.
The building has been evacuated and the occupants currently lodged at the Ahilyabai Holkar Samaj Mandir hall in Nerul, the official said. -- PTI
08:38 Pragyan rover rolls out from Vikram lander
The Pragyan rover has rolled out from the Vikram lander and will now start moving around on the lunar surface, marking a successful next stage hours after Chandrayaan-3 made its historic landing on the Moon, ISRO sources said Thursday.
President Droupadi Murmu congratulated ISRO for the successful deployment of Pragyan rover.
"I once again congratulate the ISRO team and all fellow citizens for successful deployment of Pragyan-rover from inside Vikram-lander. Its rolling out a few hours after the landing of Vikram marked the success of yet another stage of Chandrayan 3. I look forward with excitement, alongside my fellow citizens and scientists to the information and analyses that Pragyan will acquire and enrich our understanding of the moon," President Droupadi Murmu posted on X Thursday morning. -- PTI
08:24 Proud to be your partner: US to India on Chandrayaan-3
American politicians, newspapers and space research institutions hailed India Wednesday on the successful moon landing of Chandrayaan-3 as the country entered the elite club of three other nations -- United States, Russia and China -- that have a rover on the lunar surface.
In the process, India became the first country among the elite group to have its rover on the moon's south pole region, which the Indian Space Research Organisation believes could have traces of water.
"Congratulations to India for the historic landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the southern polar region of the moon," US Vice President Kamala Harris said on X, known as Twitter till recently.
"It is an incredible feat for all the scientists and engineers involved. We are proud to partner with you on this mission and space exploration more broadly," said Harris, whose mother was from India. The vice president heads the National Space Council.
Space cooperation was one of the major topics of discussion during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State visit to the US this summer. India signed the Artemis accord, and also the two countries decided to work together on an international space station.
"Congratulations ISRO on your successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar South Pole landing! And congratulations to India on being the 4th country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon. We're glad to be your partner on this mission!" said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the unchartered lunar south pole at 6.04 pm on Wednesday. No country has ever landed on the treacherous south pole that scientists believe could hold important reserves of frozen water and precious elements. Russia's south pole-bound Luna-25 spacecraft crashed into the Moon on Sunday after spinning out of control.
"Congratulations to ISRO and the people of India for the Chandrayaan-3's historic landing on the South Pole of the Moon. We look forward to deepening our partnership with India on space exploration in the years ahead," US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. -- PTI
File image
01:19 HC adjourns hearing till Sep 4 in Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah case
The Allahabad high court on Wednesday adjourned till September 4 hearing on a PIL seeking the "removal" of Mathura's Shahi Idgah mosque which the petitioner claimed was built on the Krishna Janmabhoomi or the birthplace of Lord Krishna.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Pritinker Diwakar and Justice Ashutosh Srivastava was hearing the PIL filed by one Mahek Maheshwari
The PIL has sought the "removal" of the Shahi Idgah Mosque, alleging it was built on the site of the birthplace of Krishna.
The petitioner has asked for the land to be "handed over to the Hindus and a proper trust be formed to build a temple on the Krishna Janmabhoomi land'.
In an interim plea, the petitioner also sought permission for Hindus to worship at the mosque on certain days of the week and during the festival of Janmashtami (Lord Krishna's birth anniversary celebrations), till the disposal of the petition.
The petitioner also prayed for a court-monitored excavation of the "disputed structure' by the Archaeological Survey of India.
A "mosque is not an essential part of Islam', the petition said, and hence, the "disputed land should be handed over to the Hindus for the exercise of their right to freely profess, practice and propagate religion under Article 25 of the Constitution." -- PTI
Shweta Baranwal/Smriti Irani on X
01:17 Smriti Irani tweets Amethi-ites' pix working at ISRO
Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Amethi Smriti Irani on Wednesday shared pictures of two people from her constituency working at ISRO and congratulated them for the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission.
In a giant leap for its space programme, India's Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar south pole at 6.04 pm on Wednesday, propelling the country to an exclusive club of four and making it the first country to land on the uncharted surface.
The women and child development minister, in a post on X, said, "The boys at Amethi are not far behind.. serving at ISRO since 2017 Harshit Baranwal has contributed to the Lander Testing Team as Scientist Quality Engineer for mission Chandryaan-3. Proud of you Harshit."
In another post she wrote, "Shweta Baranwal from Amethi serving at ISRO... proud of her achievements (I'm almost preening like her Ma)." -- PTI
File image
01:11 Taliban regime stops 100 girls from travelling to Dubai for studies
In another episode of suppression of women's voices in Afghanistan, the Taliban regime stopped 100 girl students, who had the opportunity to pursue higher education abroad, from travelling to Dubai at Kabul Airport, Khaama Press reported.
Due to this action by Taliban officials, the young girls who were eager to embark on their education journey were unable to proceed with their travel plans.
Khalaf Al Habtoor, a prominent Emirati businessman, has voiced his deep disappointment and concern about the incident.
In a video message, he criticized the actions of the Taliban, expressing his dismay at the hindrance they have caused to the education and aspirations of these young women.
Al-Habtoor facilitated the education of these 100 Afghan girls by providing scholarships to UAE universities, covering crucial aspects like travel expenses, accommodation, health insurance, and other necessary funds, as per Khaama Press.
However, his noble initiative -- providing 100 scholarships for Afghan girls' higher education in UAE -- has been overshadowed by the Taliban's repressive intentions.
In a voice message, the girls said that despite having valid reasons, the Taliban forces prevented them from travelling.
Last year, this UAE businessman pledged 100 scholarships for girls in Dubai, coinciding with their denied university access. -- ANI
Uddhav Thackeray
00:55 Former Shirdi MP Bhausaheb Wakchaure joins Uddhav Sena
Former Shiv Sena (undivided) MP Bhausaheb Wakchaure on Wednesday joined the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the party.
Wakchaure won the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 on Shiv Sena ticket from Shirdi constituency in Ahmednagar district.
He joined Congress in 2014 but lost to Sadashiv Lokhande of Shiv Sena.
In 2019, Wakchaure failed to save his deposit as he contested as an Independent candidate.
On Wednesday, he joined the Shiv Sena-UBT at 'Matoshree', the residence of Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai.
Sources said Wakchaure is eyeing a ticket for the 2024 LS elections.
His entry into the Shiv Sena-UBT camp comes against the backdrop of a vertical split in Shiv Sena (Undivided) last year and at least 13 MPs joining the Eknath Shinde-led camp.
In the 2019 elections, Shiv Sena won 18 seats in Maharashtra which sends 48 members to Lok Sabha. -- PTI
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